Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Vazquez-Aguirre.
Hi Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My artistic journey began in Mexico City with training at the National Conservatory of Dance (Escuela Nacional de Danza Clásica y Contemporánea) and grant support as a scholar under the National Fund for the Arts. Early on, I served as the academic coordinator at my alma mater and performed with celebrated Mexican choreographers, including Rossana Filomarino (Dramadanza), Pilar Urreta (Compañía de Artes Transformáticas), and Serafín Aponte (Serafín Aponte Danza).
To expand my artistic practice, I relocated to the United States and earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance from SUNY Brockport. My career has since balanced higher education and professional performance. I have performed with U.S. dance companies such as the Bill Evans Dance Company and Geomantics Dance Theater, and held faculty positions at institutions including Texas A&M International University, UT El Paso, Luther College, Friends University, and Southern Utah University. I currently serve as a dance specialist in a Houston, TX public school district.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Far from it! Pursuing a career in the arts demands steadfast commitment, a resilient spirit to navigate rejection, and unwavering discipline to continually hone and expand one’s craft. Throughout my years in academia, I sought to establish a permanent academic ‘home’; however, obstacles like budget cuts and misaligned leadership prompted me to explore various avenues. Ultimately, these wide-ranging pedagogical experiences have become one of my greatest assets. While navigating international teaching presents its share of complexities, the rewards are immense.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a cross-disciplinary artist and educator, my passion lies at the intersection of dance and theater, driving me to create work centered on “truth in fiction” and “fiction in truth.” Dedicated to somatic practices, I am a Projective Kinetics Laban Movement Analyst, a MAISON MUNZ coach, and a Stott Pilates Instructor Trainer.
My collaborative leadership extends across two collectives. Alongside my creative and life partner, pianist James J. Kaufmann, I co-direct Another River Interdisciplinary Ensemble. I also co-direct Ars Longa with Italian artists Maria Giovanna Falcone and Angelo Ghidoni, organizing an annual summer gathering near Milan, Italy, for creative minds engaging in cross-disciplinary research. I also collaborate with the Hispanic Alliance for Performing and Audiovisual Arts (HAPAA). Through a grant secured from Houston in Color, we established an afterschool program designed to introduce teaching arts into public schools.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the arts are currently experiencing several significant shifts that will likely define the next decade, particularly regarding technology, education, and the tension between commercialization and cultural heritage. There are hybrid models where technology is the tool for creation, archival, and global dissemination of artistic work. There is a strong movement in academic and professional circles to shift away from monolithic views. The research is prioritizing cultural and anthropological contexts over Western-centric frameworks. A tension exists between the commercial arts industry and the preservation of original cultural traditions. There are efforts to balance commercial success with the preservation of embodied, cultural heritage. I’m especially interested in artistic work that explores the intersection of different disciplines and media. These shifts suggest that the industry will become even more globalized and technologically connected, while simultaneously demanding a more critical engagement with the cultural origins of the work one creates.
Pricing:
- $90 private Pilates session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.colectivoarslonga.com
- Instagram: @_travelingkinesphere__
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/andrea.v.aguirre1
